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iPhone Dev Team releases ‘ultrasn0w’ unlock utility for iPhone OS 3.0

By: , IntoMobile
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 12:47 PM

Those Dev Team guys, they’re a genius bunch. Following on the recent release of the iPhone OS 3.0 jailbreak application, PwnageTool 3.0, the iPhone Dev Team has delivered on their promise of a simple software-unlock utility for the latest iPhone OS 3.0. The much-anticipated “ultrasn0w” utility is now live and ready to unlock any  iPhone OS 3.0-powered iPhone 3G to work with any GSM network on Planet Earth.

Now, before you get all excited about unlocking your brand-new iPhone 3GS, keep in mind that ultrasn0w will only work on the original iPhone and iPhone 3G. iPhone 3GS owners, keep your fingers crossed for a future unlock solution.

Ultrasn0w essentially replaces the older “yellowsn0w” unlock utility that rose to fame as the first software-unlock solution for the iPhone 3G. The release of iPhone OS 3.0 prompted the iPhone Dev Team to release an updated unlock utility capable of hacking the latest baseband firmware that comes bundled with the iPhone 3.0 OS – the ultrasn0w utility.

The original iPhone can be easily unlocked using PwnageTool 3.0 alone. iPhone 3G users will have to jailbreak through PwnageTool and then install the new ultrasn0w utility.

The ultrasn0w software unlock utility allows the average iPhone user to hack their iPhone 3G’s baseband firmware (modem firmware). The baseband firmware is a distinct piece of code that has nothing to do with the iPhone OS. The baseband firmware controls how the iPhone’s GSM radios connect to GSM networks, and it’s the hacking of this firmware that allows any iPhone or iPhone 3G to roam free of any carrier locks.

Follow these steps (from the iPhone Dev Team) to use ultrasn0w to unlock your iPhone OS 3.0-powered iPhone:

  1. Ensure you have upgraded to iPhone OS 3.0
  2. Jailbreak your iPhone 3G using redsn0w or PwnageTool (this will also install Cydia/Icy)
  3. Run Cydia or Icy
  4. Please add the repo repo666.ultrasn0w.com to Cydia or Icy.  That’s “ultrasn0w” with a ZERO, there is no “o” un ultrasn0w
  5. Search for ‘ultrasn0w’ in cydia or icy and install ultrasn0w
  6. Reboot your iPhone 3G

Once rebooted, your iPhone 3G should work with a SIM from just about any GSM carrier in the world. T-Mobile USA users will want to disable 3G (Settings>General>Network) before installing ultrasn0w.

Thanks, pimp!

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...

  • omar calo

    does this really work cause i just upgrade my iphone with the 3.0 version but i wanna unlock it so i can use it with t-mobiel what should i do

  • kevin

    i tried, but it doesn’t work for my 3gs version 3.1.2 is there anything else i can do?

  • carlos

    For the 3.1 firmware, there is no “Windows” hack but there is a Mac version software but the trick is not to use Apples .ipsw restore, you must use a custom .ipsw restore file. If you use apple’s your phone will not be unlockable, and you may even “brick” your phone which will make it unusable.